About the Artist

Simon Lok was born and raised in Guangzhou, China. He developed an interest in art during his teenage years and began studying drawing and painting in his early twenties through private tutoring. In the 1980s, he moved to the United States to pursue his artistic career. He studied illustration at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena and at California State University, Long Beach during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In the early 1990s, Simon Lok joined Walt Disney Feature Animation as a visual development artist. He contributed to the development of numerous animated feature films, including Mulan, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Brother Bear, and The Princess and the Frog, among others. In more than ten film credits, his name appears as Saiping Lok.

Working at Disney greatly expanded his painting skills. In a highly competitive yet supportive environment, he deepened his understanding of key design principles such as simplification, stylization, and abstraction. Oil painting became his greatest passion. Over the years, he has participated in numerous painting activities organized by the California Art Club and attended workshops taught by well-known artists across the United States.

Lok has been deeply influenced by the philosophy of plein air painting. As the renowned California painter William Wendt once said, “Painting on location is the communication with God.” Masters such as Joaquín Sorolla, Guy Rose, and Maynard Dixon have also had a strong impact on his artistic development. In addition, the circle of Chinese artist friends around him has played an important role in shaping his creative journey. Through the practice of plein air painting, he has expanded his understanding of color and strengthened his visual vocabulary.

At Disney, Lok’s role involved designing the mood and visual style of animated films. His work in animation and his outdoor painting practice developed side by side. He applied his deep understanding of light and color to his paintings, earning admiration from his peers. In one annual performance review, colleagues wrote that “his uncanny color keys inspire the whole background department.”

His career at Disney laid a strong foundation for his later work as a fine artist. After more than two decades of success in animation, Simon Lok shifted his focus to fine art painting. Today, figure and landscape painting are his favorite subjects. He is particularly fascinated by the relationship between the human figure and the surrounding landscape.

Simon Lok is a signature member of the California Art Club. His honors include First Place in Landscape at the California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition in 2012 and the Museum Purchase Award at the Bowers Museum Landscape Painting Competition in 2004.